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Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Lauren and Josiah's Tree

Before ringing in 2019, Josiah and Lauren Duggar took down their Christmas tree. This was their first Christmas and New Year's as a married couple, and on December 30th, they also celebrated their six-month wedding anniversary. (That day was Jedidiah and Jeremiah Duggar's 20th birthday, as well.) For those wondering where Lauren found her red dress shown in the photo below, it was an Amazon purchase.

It's probably in part her celiacs. She could be naturally thin but some people with celiacs, like myself, have so much damage to their intensitinal track that it limits them further on what they can eat and tolerate and/or the absorption of their food. It took a lot of hard work for me to gain enough weight to be in a good range. Just saying. Dont judge either way as you dont know individual circumstances.

Modest clothing supporters - please explain how a dress like this (or her wedding dress) could be considered modest. It shows every curve. So did the wedding dress. Just because the body is covered doesn't mean it's modest. When clothing fits against the body like that, modesty goes out the window. The boys are just as guilty of this with their tight shirts and pants. The Duggars and their kin don't follow their own stated modesty guidelines any more!

Ok...just went back to peek at Lauren’s wedding dress thinking I may have remembered it wrong. Nope. It was beautiful. Classy. Tasteful. Elegant. I could go on. I suggest you adhere to the words of Thumper..”if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all”.

It's clear from the way you worded this that you aren't coming from a conservative pro modest point of view. So my question is, since when does the average liberal not believe in choice? Are you saying as an adult woman she can't make her own decisions? Are you trying to say that Josiah and her in-laws should force her to wear what they want? Wow, that's not very open minded of you to expect her to get permission for her wardrobe choices. Plus, by current cultural standards this is definitely modest.

Lauren is a beautiful girl & though I'm not seriously into modest dressing to the degree of the Duggars I feel Lauren looks lovely in her red dress, very festive & smart & lets be honest why should a girl of 19 wear a shapeless tunic, she still looks modest to me, & even if she didn't, it's up to her how she dresses & it certainly doesn't stop her being a nice godly young woman. I love Lauren & feel her & Josiah bring a breath of fresh air to counting on as a couple.

Lauren isn’t a born Duggar so probably follows her own families set of ideas for modesty unitl she was old enough to decide for herself. They’re adults now and can interpret the teachings in any way they like,as most adults do.

I understand that is your opinion, but why do you care what other people wear? She is so tiny that if she wore it any bigger she would look like shes drowning in it... I personally think she looks nice, and shes not showing anything. She is comfortable with her body and what she is wearing... so who are we to judge her choice of clothes? There is only one judge!! 🙏

Her dress isn’t exactly form fitting. Her skirt is flared. Nothing wrong and why spew ridicule over a Christmas picture? Did you have a bad holiday? Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and less criticism for this family

Just because she married into the family, doesn't mean she has to follow their rules. She is her own woman and can make her own choices. My husband doesn't attended church and never has or has a desire to. Yet I go and take our son with us, just because he doesn't attended. Doesn't mean I should stop going or not be allowed to take our son. My husband and I agree that I can take our children to church and be allowed to raise them to go there, until they are old enough to make up their own minds. When you marry someone doesn't mean you need to change yourself to fit their life style, nor should having a different life style stop you from marrying someone you love.

As woman who has a conviction to wear long modest dresses, I believe God gives each of us convictions on what is modest and what is not. The Lord has changed my views on modesty the last 17 years. While Laurens dress fits her, it's not low cut showing cleavage and it's at her knees. I feel it is modest. Why judge her and the others because they do not have the same convictions as someone else? I know within my own small church, the various families have their own modesty standards. What one family allows, another would never let their girls wear. For instance, one family feels jumpers are not modest.

[6] This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. [7] So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Look who's trying to stir stuff up. It clearly is modest. A modest dress can be fitted. If the skirt was tightly fitted, it would be risky but it's not. The skirt flares, it has sleeves and the dress almost reaches past her knees. Let's stop the drama.

So you can tell she’s a woman under that dress. Why is that so upsetting to you? Tell me, do you wear a long bag with eye holes cut out so as not to tempt any man? There is NOTHING wrong with what she’s wearing!

Modest, immodest, WHATEVER!!! I was impressed with Lauren looking so dressed up to do chores. When I took my decorations down (a necessary move as my daughter’s kittens were climbing the tree and trying to sit in the manger scene) I was elegantly attired in my old sweatpants and a T-shirt.

Listen, the OP got exactly what he/she wanted - to rile up Duugar fans. The best way to handle people who just want to cause trouble is to ignore them. If no one reacts and responds to them, what fun will that be! Maybe they would stop baiting us who are geuine Duggar fans.

Lauren is a beautiful girl and her parents, particularly her mom, do not dress like the Duggars. That being said, the dress is very form-fitting at the top but flares at the bottom. I see both sides of the debate. But she's so young and I think it's like the "best of both worlds" so to speak. It covers, yes, but does it conceal, no.

I think the OP’s point is that the Duggar’s have modified some of their standards over the years, now that the next generation are adults, and they’ve never really addressed this. IMO, some people or churches get too caught up in legislating man-made prescriptive rules. I dress according to what makes me feel good, not someone else. I wear pants almost exclusively because I don’t find dresses or skirts comfortable. Wear what you want, because it’s impossible to please everyone. It’s all subjective anyway and men are responsible for their own thoughts and actions.

Spirituality is a personal matter and what others do to express their own should not be looked upon as a gold standard for everyone else, including this hot button issue of wardrobe “modesty.” Wear whatever you like. Just understand that it doesn’t make you any more Godly than the next person, just because you choose to dress a certain way.

I feel so bad for these girls. If she had worn anything less form fitting there would be a bunch of comments about how she “looks” pregnant. It’s too bad people cant keep their mouths shut or fingers still when it comes to Duggar women’s bodies.

Lauren has said on the show that she has the same modesty standards as the Duggars.

Lauren looks amazing. The dress is figure flattering and is a beautiful color. The cut and style of the dress is modest and does fit to their standards. I think that the fabric is thin so that it does cling a little and emphasizes her shape. It would flare out more if the fabric was thicker. That Lauren is also reaching up may also affect the lay of the fabric. If she was photographed straight on there wouldn't be any debate about whether this dress is modest.

People you need to remember that a lot of people who come on this blog were no doubt fans of the Duggar s from way back and so the older girls in the family were always dressed with not form fitting dresses like this. So why do you people get so worked up when people comment on the change in how they dress now. There are a lot of conservative men and women who aren't use to seeing the tighter dresses, the pants on the women etc. Most of us got use to the way Michelle and Jim Bob lived and dressed and their kids lived and dressed, so it is different seeing this kind of change in things. Lauren wasn't raised by the Duggar s but her husband is one. So lighten up on people. The Duggar s ultra conservative ways while raising a large family and Christian views were the main reason people watched the show in the first place.

My family and I don't follow these same modesty standards, but I have to make an observation and ask for clarification from those claiming this outfit is "modest." The dress is skin-tight through the waist, totally shows her form. It doesn't look modest to me. Looks like something from a mall shop. Are you guys saying it's okay to wear skin tight, form-fitting clothing over the bust and waist, as long as you don't show your shoulders, arms, thighs, knees??? I feel she should wear whatever she wants, but am trying to understand how this outfit is modest.

2:48, it just depends on what your standards are for what is modest. Personally I don’t believe showing your arms or legs is wrong. That is an ultra conservative mindset that most Christians don’t follow. Some outfits are promiscuous, and it’s very easy to see when they are. This one is not.

Oh my goodness! I cannot believe the amount of texts concerning a 19-year-old married woman’s dress. It makes the Lincoln-Douglas or Kennedy-Nixon debates pale in comparison. Don’t bother us with matters such as immigration, racism, or global warming. We have the “modest/immodest red dress” issue before us.

9:56- I think the Duggars brought this controversy on themselves to a certain extent. Early on, they made dressing modestly, whatever that means, a big part of their media image. They went so far as to coach their sons to avert their eyes downward if another family member called, "Nike". This was to avoid seeing a woman wearing questionable clothing, like a swimsuit at the beach. The daughters talked about this topic in their book. Now that they've grown up and some have left home, it's obvious that they've modified their stance on this, but they never directly address it. It's a good example of how easy it is to paint oneself into a corner with such legalistic doctrine, which is pretty much based on subjective interpretations of the Scriptures in the first place. It makes no difference to me how people choose to practice their faith. However, if you're a public figure and people see things that don't add up or seem inconsistent with your message, don't be surprised when they start asking questions.

Funny comment about the 1890's. I believe that was when the style was for women to wearca shiftand corset and extremely form-fitting, waist-cinching, tight bodices with flaring skirts that reached to the floor, often with a bustle in back. Nobody talked about modesty then.

There are no universal rules for how one celebrates Christmas. I like decorating right after Thanksgiving and putting it all away by New Years. If you want to observe it differently, you are free to do so, as well as listen to holiday music whenever you wish.

My friends husband is an Anglican bishop here in England & he is very vehement on the 12 days of Christmas. Their family never ever take their tree & decorations down till the epiphany. He also leaves the Christmas tree & manger up in the cathedral he works out of until the 6th Jan. I used to leave my tree up till 12th night too but iv a little 8 month old kitten this year & she has been constantly climbing up the tree so I decided to take it down yesterday (2nd Jan) 😢

Earlier this week, I drove past a house that still had its Halloween pumpkins out front. Is there a rule about pumpkin removal time, too? Maybe there should be, because they looked pretty strange along with their Christmas decorations.

@4:35 Different strokes for different folks. One way is no better than another. It’s all about personal preferences and/or different religious beliefs. There are no laws mandating conformity to certain holiday celebrations or traditions, thank goodness!

Do whatever makes you happy. I’m in the mood for Christmas right after the Thanksgiving dishes are washed and put away. By New Years, our tree is losing needles and has to go. By then, I’m sick of Christmas music. No way I want to keep things going another week.

Our family tradition has been tree and decor up day after Thansgiving. Tree and decor put away January 7th. I recently attended Epiphany Sunday near Boston, and was so excited to see decor still up and hear carols sung.

It's clear at all. Some women don't show at all during the first trimester. It would be her first so it doesn't show a lot at first.I'm currently 11 weeks pregnant with my third baby and I don't show. We'll know for sure when they announce it.

Yea, who knows if she’s pregnant or not! I keep thinking there will be an announcement soon from someone in the Duggar family as there hasn’t been a pregnancy announcement for a full year now!!!! And the youngest grandbaby is nearly 6 months old ta boot!

Beautiful tree and lovely dress Lauren !I hope we'll get to see a new season of counting on to be able to follow them throught their firt year of married life and also see John and Abby ! I'm worried it got cancelled since we didn't hear about a new season coming...

I don’t think jealous is the right word. I really think some Duggar fans are a bit taken back because yes Lauren is beautiful so is this dress but in all honesty it isn’t very modest at all. Well not modest for a Duggar woman. The dress is very formFitting, hugging every single curve of her body. Granted she’s technically an adult and can wear whatever she wants, but unfortunately she will be judged a bit harsher due to the family she married into. I think the general consensus is that she shouldn’t be wearing immodest clothing due to her strict religious belief system that frowns upon dressing in a way that doesn’t draw attention to her countenance. This dress can certainly cause a mans attention to be drawn to her body, which can lead to lustful thoughts. This is why women aren’t supposed to dress that way.

Women can actually be decently dressed in a variety of ways!!!! I know this is a brand new revelation, but please pay attention!! Whether a dress is knee-length, ankle-length, calf-length, or even if she has on pants, does NOT—I repeat—does NOT determine if a woman is decent or not!!! If you are feeling flabbergasted, please keep reading for even more jaw-dropping info!

It has been uncovered that scaling women’s decency by your own personal preferences of clothing does not produce accurate results!!!! Yikes!!! In fact, many women are quite humble and moral even if they wear items you may not!! Are you still with me?!

Furthermore, it’s been unclassified that God calls for women to be humble in heart, not seeking attention, to have a quiet spirit, and to not waste money on finery. And apparently all of that can be obeyed with a variety of wardrobe choices!! Who knew?!?!

So calling a flared, knee-length dress “immodest,” or calling a loose-fitting, long dress “frumpy” are both highly ridiculous and only reflect your own proud vanities. This has been a friendly PSA. Have a good day.

Hayley, I completely agree with your statements. However the Issue others are having is that the Duggars don’t believe this way. Research their belief system and it specifically states women are to dress in a way that draws attention to their face and not their body. ( ie no formFitting attire, no jeans, being covered from neck to knee) Lauren’s dress is beautiful and so is she but she is not dressing modest by her beliefs. She is drawing attention to her body and creating lustful desires in men, which is why she shouldn’t be flaunting her figure even though she is a very pretty young lady.

You’re right. I remember watching the Duggars way back when I was 16 or 17, when they had their first tv special. I will totally agree with you that the Duggars have slipped farther and farther away from what they once were. It’s very obvious that they all—the women and men both—desire for their bodies to be found attractive by the public and dress in a way that is not “modest” by their own definition.

My post was strictly for the commenters who feel the revelations God has given them about dress should be the basis for accusing others of dishonoring God. But like you said, I think you and I agree totally. Have a really good day!

11:26 is the one who's so true. The problem isn't that she doesn't look good. The problem is that this goes against all their religious dress standards that we've been told about over and over, both in print and on TV. If those have completely changed for everyone following that religion, tell us so, Duggars!

Anon 12:14 I tend to agree with your observation. I don't think there's anything wrong with how the Duggars dress now, but it is a far cry from what they used to preach. This is one of the things that I'll never understand about them. If they've changed their standards then they should say so publicly. Otherwise they seem a bit hypocritical.

I think this second generation is nothing like their parents. A lot of people I know do not watch the Duggar s or follow any news about them because they are not the same people anymore. The Bates are headed down this same road too. The frugal, community serving, conservative dressing that they always talked about are gone now. So I guess it comes down to if you don't mind this new lifestyle and belief system that you see now then keep watching, but if you don't like it then I guess do what most people I know did and just ignore them.

Anon 5:34. I agree. I don't watch them now. I see how fame and fortune has changed both families. I don't follow the Bates, but the Duggars now seem preoccupied with their appearance, getting married, having babies and traveling to visit family members.

Why all of the negativity? Lauren looks great. What if Lauren reads all of that and it hurts her. What would the Lord say about that? We are supposed to treat others like we want to be treated. And Abbie's hair looks great too.

Lauren looks amazing in her pretty red dress. I believe the ones commenting otherwise are jealous, that`s is usually how it goes. Her life, her choices. Easy to sit behind a screen and type mean things about others, when you are usually spewing more about how you feel about yourself. All of the girls in this family are beautiful and can dress how they see fit. Are any of you buying their clothes or footing the bill for the clothes, there babies or their life? Then you don`t have a dog in that race. Sad people are always critical of others. All the D girls are beautiful including Mom D. I can`t wait until you all come back on TV and in the meantime, Blessings to you all!!

Pretend for a second that the duggars changed the way they dress. They do not "owe" their fans any sort of explanation. They are under no obligation to anyone!! Some of these people making comments seem a bit too obsessed with the duggars'lifestyle.

Kind of a late post, but I just wanted to say that the Duggars DID change their style, and THEY DID SAY SO! In 19 Kids they often talked about their new "modern modest" style, which is fine! I personally find that Lauren's dress is fine - perhaps a bit tighter than I would wear, but nothing to criticize for sure.

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Welcome to the premiere source for factual, encouraging updates on Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar and their 19 kids (TLC's 19 Kids and Counting & Counting On). Our site is not maintained by the Duggars, but we (Lily and Ellie) are personal friends of the family.